By David Lohr
December 12, 2007
BARDSTOWN, KY. (Crime Library) — Dr. Paul Schum, 50, has resigned his position as principle of Bethlehem High School, in wake of a citation he recently received from police for loitering for the purpose of prostitution.
"Dr. Schum believes, and we agree, that the continued legal process and media scrutiny will be painful for Bethlehem's students and faculty," the school board said in a prepared statement, adding, "After his resignation, the school board appointed assistant principal Chris Walsh to handle Schum's duties through the end of the school year. We are confident in (Walsh's) ability to provide the leadership the school needs. We will convene a search process for a new principal at the appropriate time."
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| Bethlehem High School |
The statement also said that Schum's decision to leave was "motivated by his concern for the school and with the best interests of the students, faculty and staff in mind."
Schum's resignation stems from an incident that occurred on the night of October 30, when a police officer patrolling a neighborhood known for narcotics trafficking and prostitution spotted him dressed in drag in an alley at 23rd and Stone Streets.
"[The patrol officer] observed the individual dressed in a black leather woman's outfit with fishnet stockings, fake breasts, a blonde wig and he had on lipstick," Louisville Metro Police Department Detective Phil Russell said in a November 5th interview with Crime Library. "The officer talked to the individual in the car and asked the individual what he was doing in the alley. He provided a couple of answers, but none seemed to be legitimate to the officer, so he reasoned that the only purpose that he had to be in the alley that night, dressed that way, at that particular hour, was for the purpose of prostitution... It was not until the end of the stop that a sergeant recognized this individual, and knew him to be the principal of a Catholic high school in Bardstown, which is the county adjacent to metro Louisville."
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| Dr. Paul Schum |
Schum has refused to discuss the case with the media; however, his supporters have voiced the opinion that he was probably dressed in drag in preparation for Halloween, but police are not buying that explanation.
"It occurred the night before Halloween," Russell said. "The argument by his supporters is that it was a Halloween costume. The officers clearly recognized that it was the Halloween season, but, due to this individual not being a resident of that area, that area being known for narcotics and prostitution, and it is a dark alley, and he could provide no legitimate reason for being in that alley at that time of night, the officers surmised he's not here to buy dope; he's dressed in drag, so they reasoned that his only purpose was for the reason of prostitution."
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